No secret about development plans

Who in Mundelein are you trying to kid, Sarah Powers? ("Don't pit one group against another," Fence Post, Sept. 10) Seriously. Developments don't happen in a vacuum. There aren't any secret codes or secret handshakes in Mundelein. Development meetings go on for years. Developers have made public presentations at planning commission and Mundelein Village Board meetings dozens of times over the years. Concerned citizens and opposition groups have privately met with Rubloff and other developers how many times?

Or wasn't the Mundelein public supposed to know that? Were those meetings a secret? As to village board or other commission meetings, secret, behind closed doors? Village board and commission meeting notices are in the newspapers, on the village of Mundelein Web site, in Mundelein Matters, posted on notice boards and I'm sure in other places. Agendas and meeting materials are posted on the village of Mundelein Web site. These meetings are open to the public. Newspaper articles have been written. Letters to the editor have been written.

What more is needed? Personal e-mails? Sky writing? Do developers meet with people or officials outside of the public meetings? Of course they do. How else would all of the required work get done? At village board meetings concerned citizens or opposition group members talk about the discussions they've personally had with area developers. The developers are going above and beyond to work positively with Mundelein residents, and others near or outside of Mundelein.

For those of us paying attention we know where the "up-scaling," "economic class," "discrimination" "wall building" talk first started, and it wasn't the mayor or the board.

Those divisive comments were never appropriate; they didn't go over very well, and it made some of our residents angry. So now you're trying to shift the blame over to the Mundelein mayor and village board? Seriously?

Even worse, Mundelein residents should be offended when tragic historical events are blatantly being used to dramatize the position of MfAD (Mundelein for Appropriate Development). These theatrics have to stop. They're not cute, productive or helping the Mundelein community. Enough already.

We can be positive and still be effective. Here is a novel idea: Why don't we focus on negotiate, not litigate? Work with the leaders, not against them. The litigation choice of some and the negative focus of others gives Mundelein residents the message that the real bottom line of MfAD and the opposition groups is delay, not improvement. Delay and the hope that the developers and their developments will go away. If delay isn't the true motive, then why isn't MfAD and other groups at the table to negotiate? Negotiate, no matter how hard it is and how long it takes. Negotiate, don't say my way or the highway. Negotiate.

Robin Meier

Mundelein

Advocates did a terrific job

Lake County United did an amazing job advocating for a new facility for Winchester House! Members spent countless hours volunteering to meet with Lake County Board members, testify and attend committee and board meetings, not to mention all the time given to organizing and preparing for all these meetings. The Family Council and Resident Council of Winchester House thank every member of Lake County United for all of their hard work and support. From the bottom of our hearts we appreciate everything you have done!

Liz Nelson

Lindenhurst

For the Winchester House Family Council

and Resident Council